The Canadian sports betting market is one of the most exciting in the world. There are plenty of opportunities for Canadians to bet on their favourite teams, and there are even more opportunities for them to do so legally in Ontario at numerous online betting sites since April 4th, 2022. Here’s everything you need to know about sports betting in Canada:
Sports Betting Is a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry in Canada
The Canadian sports betting market is huge. According to a report released by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), it’s estimated that $10 billion per year is spent on illegal sports betting in Canada alone.
The government has been trying to stop this activity for years, but because of their inability to stop it, they’ve decided instead to embrace the industry and regulate it themselves. The federal government realized that if they could gain control over this area with increased regulation and taxation, money from these companies would come rolling in. The recent launch has changed the face of gambling in Canada. They’re hoping this will provide them with additional revenue streams, which could help balance out some of Canada’s deficit problems.
The Canadian government has taken serious steps toward legalizing sports betting across all provinces. However, there are still some hurdles left before we’ll see full legalization across Canada as a whole.
The Launch of Sports Betting in Ontario Took Place on April 4, 2022
Years have gone by, but Ontario’s sports betting regulations changed on April 4th 2022.
Up until that date, the government-owned Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation had been the only company to provide online sports betting legally. To be precise, they operated a sportsbook called PROLINE+.
The law changes allow online sportsbooks and casinos that operate in the private sector to accept legal wagers in Ontario. For sportsbooks to enter the new iGaming market, they must register with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario first. Moreover, they also need to sign a contract with iGaming Ontario.
Among the sports betting options allowed by AGCO are:
- Single-game wagers
- Proposition wagers
- Parlays
- Exchange wagering
- Teaser wagers
- Over-under
- Moneyline
- Pools
- Live in-game wagering
- Straight wagers
What Is the Reason Behind This?
Residents of Ontario already gamble over the Internet, which is one of the reasons for revamping online gambling in the province. It is important to note, however, that most of that gambling occurs on sites and operators that are not regulated in the province, even though they may be regulated elsewhere in the world – which is still the case with offshore casinos.
As far as the sportsbook wagering is concerned, PointsBet Canada is one of the first operators to receive an operating license in Ontario. You can read the article at Real Casinos Canada where Scott Vanderwel, the CEO of PointsBet Canada, explained their plans before the launch.
And here’s what he has to say about obtaining a license in Ontario: “We (PointsBet Canada) are very excited about being one of the first operators to receive a license; it comes on the back of months of being a very close collaboration with the regulator.” Giving Canadian bettors an opportunity to place wagers on many sports including tennis, he added:
“This is still an industry that is, from a legal perspective, quite nascent in this country, and there will be a lot of places where we need to continue to look at and improve the model for Canadians and competitors.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Canadian sports betting market has been extremely difficult for lawmakers to regulate. The government has tried many different methods of controlling this activity, but none have worked. They have finally come to realize that legalizing it may be their best option at this time.